MEDICINAL CANNABIS SCHEME TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE ACT

A medicinal cannabis scheme will be established in the ACT, with the Government hoping to have it in place in 2017.

Assistant Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the scheme would work to develop a framework for the prescription, use and distribution of medicinal cannabis products for those who need them on medical grounds.

"This is not about accessing cannabis products more broadly. This is about accessing medicinal cannabis products that we know are safe and trusted, and that health practitioners can safely prescribe to patients who need it," she said.

"We hope that it'll be in place in 2017, to enable Canberrans who need medicinal cannabis products for their condition or illness to be able to access safe, proven medicinal cannabis products."